Children's Religious Education Curriculum Guide
SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH 2001-2002
NURSERY CARE
Infancy - 3 Years Old
A warm welcome awaits our youngest members in our well-equipped nursery and toddler rooms. A safe environment allows for exploration, relaxation, and a feeling of "home away from home." A professional child-care adult is assisted by volunteer adults and teenagers. All nursery parents are asked to participate on a rotating basis.
CELEBRATING ME AND MY WORLD
Preschool
This full-year curriculum celebrates the wondrous qualities of children
and of the animals, people and objects around them. It provides preschoolers
with experiences and opportunities to grow in trust and caring and to
develop their self-identity and their sense of connectedness with life
in all its variety.
SPECIAL TIMES
Grades 1 & 2
This program acquaints
children with the Jewish and Christian heritages out of which our Unitarian
Universalist faith has grown, and engages them in celebrations of Jewish
and Christian holidays and other "special times" such as the
Shabbat/Sabbath, Thanksgiving, and everybody's birthday. It helps them
recognize the special quality of time set apart for worship and celebration,
for themselves and for all people, and to honor both diversity and universality
in religious traditions.
TIMELESS THEMES: STORIES
FROM HEBREW AND CHRISTIAN BIBLES
Grades 3 & 4
Children are introduced to the biblical literature central to our
cultural heritage and to the human issues that inspired these scriptures:
the timeless themes of loneliness, loyalty, trust, jealousy, transcendent
power, human responsibility, love of freedom, speaking out against injustice,
respect for the beliefs of others, love of one's neighbor, and forgiveness.
In discussing Bible issues, children are invited to think about Unitarian
Universalist values.
NEIGHBORING FAITHS, PART
I
Grades 5 & 6
Neighboring Faiths
introduces youth to the faith traditions and practices of other religious
groups in their community, providing several processes for engaging participants
in a religious journey that invites participation of parents, other interested
adults, and religious leaders in the congregation and the community. This
journey builds community among the youth, connects them with their congregation
and larger community, and strengthens their Unitarian Universalist identity.
A two-year program, this year the emphasis will be on Christianity, Judaism,
and Islam.
OUR WHOLE LIVES
Grades 7 & 8
The overall goal
of Our Whole Lives is to create a positive, comprehensive lifespan educational
program that helps participants gain the knowledge, values, and skills
to lead sexually healthy and responsible lives. This program is based
on relevant and holistic attitudes and values, including self-worth, sexual
health, responsibility, justice, and inclusiveness. Leaders are especially
trained to facilitate the program for this age group.
COMING OF AGE
Grade 9
With guidance from their leaders and mentors (to be chosen from our
congregation), these youth will be engaged in activities, experiences,
and discussions leading to the development of their own personal belief
statement. A weekend pilgrimage to Boston – the center of our historical
UU beginnings – will round out the year. In sharing our faith and
our mission this program provides opportunities to explore Unitarian Universalist
history, to understand our purposes and principles, and to create and
participate in meaningful projects or social outreach.